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We are well underway into the heart of the fall season. Halloween has just passed, but before we go full into Christmas and winter décor, let’s take the time to give our home that true fall feeling. Here’s a list of some of our favorite small ways to enjoy autumn at home for the next few weeks.
Give those decorative pumpkins new life. If you have any decorative
pumpkins leftover from Halloween, you can still repurpose them into a fall and
Thanksgiving-themed spread. And, it’s also one of the cheapest times of year to
stock up. Grab some mini pumpkins and gourds to add to any table setting,
foyer, bathroom – or any space in your home that could use a small pop of
color.
Smell like the season. Scented candles of pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple cider and more – there are so many distinct smells that will have you transported into Novembers from years past. Whether you incorporate cinnamon sticks or brooms somewhere, go the candle route or just throw some cider on the stove, it’s easy to create ambiance with scent to add to the cozy feel.
Warm blankets and throws. Now that the colder weather is here, does anything really sound better than cozying up under a warm blanket in front of a fire? Break out the winter blankets or head to an overstock home store, such as HomeGoods or Marshalls, to get an abundance of warm fuzzy blankets on every couch and chair.
Get seasonal in the kitchen. From soups, squashes and turkey-based meals, to delicious desserts made from pumpkins and berries – it’s the perfect time to bring your autumn-inspired imagination into the kitchen and out onto the dining room table. Whether you’re baking cookies to handout to neighbors and friends, mastering a butternut squash soup recipe, meal prepping with seasonal vegetables or planning out your next feast, delicious food is definitely one of the reasons for the seasons.
Bring the outdoors in. There are several flowers and plants to keep around the house which will embrace and complement your fall and cozy décor. The Amaryllis is a flower that thrives in the cold weather and with its strong colors of red, pink, white and sometimes green, it’ll bring you through November and continue to deliver in December. Other beautiful staples include Chrysanthemums in shades of yellow, red and orange, Orchids, Christmas Cactus and Eucalyptus. Or get crafting on a pumpkin succulent arrangement for the ultimate centerpiece that’s also now trending.
Don’t forget the front door. To create a home
experience that feels festive from the moment you or your guests arrive, don’t
forget about the front door. Purchase a front door mat with a cute saying or
fall design. Then, either create your very own wreath, find one made of silk
plants or one from a local florist to add some seriously seasonal curb appeal.
November 15th is America Recycles Day, a part of the Keep America Beautiful program. All over the country, people are encouraged to host events and educate those around them on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Since it’s easy to sort things in the recycling bin for plastics and papers, this blog is your guide to the “reducing” and “reusing” portion of the three R’s. In addition to reducing your environmental impact, recycling is a great way to reduce your spending too.
Reduce, Reuse, Reconsider
If part of your grocery shopping involves buying single-use plastics like plastic water bottles, consider picking up a refillable bottle. In addition to saving you money, these reusable bottles vastly reduce the amount of plastic you’re consuming. Every year, over 50 billion plastic water bottles are used in the US alone, costing consumers as much as 17 million barrels of crude oil. If you get a wide-mouthed bottle, slice fresh fruit like kiwis and strawberries and put them in your water overnight to give your drinks a fruity taste that will keep things fresh.
When you show up to the grocery store, make sure you’ve got your own reusable bags with you. In addition to reducing the amount of plastic you’re consuming, you’ll also be keeping your groceries safer. Cloth totes are much sturdier and less likely to rip under pressure than plastic or paper shopping bags, which means your fruit will make it to that drawer in your fridge unbruised and not having touched the grocery store parking lot. In addition to reducing the amount of plastic used, many grocery stores will offer discounts for bringing your own bags for your groceries.
Your Trash is Treasure
While it may be nice to have a dedicated spot to grow herbs and vegetables in your backyard, you don’t need a greenhouse to make a green home. Lennar homes come standard with a number of environmentally friendly add-ons, like water-conservative commodes, LED lighting, a number of other home features, thanks to an Everything’s Included® approach to homebuilding.
If you’re interested in growing your own food, get a start on your soil with a home compost garden. Composting creates a nutrient-rich environment for your plants to grow in, and reduces as much as 30% of household waste. In addition to this, the crops that come from your compost will be better for you, free of the harmful chemicals that can be found in commercial fertilizers. Here’s a guide to get started on your backyard composting.
By making it a point to be mindful of what you’re purchasing and how you discard your waste, you can vastly reduce your carbon footprint and make a dent in your family’s expenses as well. Making simple switches like reusing a water bottle and having reusable bags may seem small, but every little bit adds up, and if everybody does their part, it will be easy to see the difference. For more ways to protect the planet—and your paycheck—be sure to Like Lennar on Facebook.
The perks of a perfect patio are hard to ignore. It’s like having an extra room in your home. You can cook, eat, nap, read, relax and, best of all, send the kids out to play. Why limit those awesome benefits to the summer months? Spending time outdoors is an essential part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. The trick is extending your patio season year-round, even when the outdoor temperature is less than ideal.
Enjoying time outdoors despite the temperature must include comfortable furniture. You won’t want to sit on a cold metal chair in the middle of winter. You need soft cushions that are clean and free from mold or mildew. Add in a plush blanket and pillows to provide more comfort that will take the edge off the cooler weather. Outdoor rugs underneath the seating area will also keep toes and feet comfy and cozy.
There’s something warm and inviting about an outdoor fire pit. Whether you choose gas or a wood-burning option, you’ll have a tough time tearing yourself away from the light and warmth of a cozy fire. Imagine s’mores in the winter. Another option? A gas-powered patio heater that radiates heat on all sides. Tabletop outdoor heating elements are also an option if you want to add just a touch of heat.
The wind, rain, and even a little snow won’t bother you if you have some shelter. An awning or canopy can take the edge off, as long as you have some heat. A covered patio adds value and elegance to your yard and makes it more energy efficient. It’s also great for adding shade in the summer!
A dip in temperatures and the arrival of fall color also means less light. Battle this loss by hanging extra lighting to your outdoor living space. A strand of twinkle lights provides a nice touch that adds ambiance to your patio and yard. Light up your landscaping and pathways. Solar stick lights surrounding the patio will keep the electric bill low and give you just enough light to enjoy the evening.
While many gardens and lawns go dormant during the colder months, there are a few unique plants that love the winter weather. Planting seasonal colors for your growing zone allows you to continue enjoying your patio all year long. Consider adding chrysanthemums, pansies or winter jasmine for natural color. For those of you living in warmer climates, there are more options for winter color as some plants continue to bloom year-round.
As with any living space, you’re more likely to spend time in an area that isn’t dirty. Get the leafblower and rake out and keep the yard and patio free of leaves and fallen twigs. Cleaning out or fixing drains and downspouts will ensure that no standing water invades your yard. Shovel snowy walkways and cover outdoor seating before a snowstorm to protect the seating from the elements.
There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in every season. While cooler temperatures do bring a certain chill to the air, fall and winter can be one of the most beautiful times to experience the outdoors.
Neil Scarano is a retired real estate agent who enjoys redecorating and flipping houses in his spare time. His specialty is designing backyards with a unique flair.
Whether you are in the market for your first home or upgrading from a starter home, you don’t want to compromise on some things. Whether you have young children or spend much of your time working, you want your home to be an oasis — a place you can come home to and relax. Check out these five features young family home buyers love to get some inspiration.
Today’s homebuyer doesn’t have a lot of time to spend cleaning. Any parent can tell you white carpeting is a huge turn-off. Families need easy-to-clean surfaces. Hardwood floors are a must for young families who want to cut down on allergens and clean up spills and messes quickly. Other features include the right paint finishes, such as satin or semigloss, on those easy-to-reach walls for quick cleanup. Anything porous that soaks up spills won’t do in a home for a young family.
An automatic sprinkler system for the lawn is crucial. Young families don’t have time to waste moving a sprinkler around to water the lawn. It’s also a good idea to have only native plants and shrubs that won’t need much maintenance or water.
Seven out of 10 millennials own a pet. It could be a dog or cat, but could also include nontraditional pets such as snakes and iguanas. Designing a pet-friendly home is a significant asset for a young family. This includes plenty of outdoor space that’s suited for dogs (and kids) to run around outside. Other features could involve more area in a laundry room for a pet feeding station or litter box.
Understandably, a young parent can get frazzled by having to share a toilet with potty training kiddos. The master bedroom area should be a reprieve from the daily stresses of raising young children. Make sure this area is a quiet and peaceful respite for busy parents, preferably with a big bathtub! A bedroom suite with an attached bathroom and closet is a coveted feature. Add in enough space for a large walk-in closet in another must for working parents.
A magic home that organizes and cleans itself would be a dream come true! The next best thing is having built-in features like cubbies, food pantries, and shelves for shoes. This helps parents get ahead in the battle to get kids to put things away. Large closets are essential, in the bedrooms and hallways. If your home doesn’t currently have these features, set aside room for future additions.
Open floor plans and great rooms are home features that aren’t going away anytime soon. Young families crave this kind of space as it allows for more time to socialize. If parents are cooking in the kitchen, they can still engage (and keep an eye on) younger children in the family room. They can talk to guests while preparing dinner. Sacrificing extra features like a study or library on the main floor for a large great room is worth it. Make sure there’s enough room for a large couch and space for everyone to fit around the dining table.
While there are plenty of ways to design a home, there are absolute necessities for every family with young children. If it’s easy to maintain, it will keep its value for years to come.
Kristina Phelan is a freelance writer specializing in home living and landscaping. Her parenting column, Mama Bear Moxie, is printed in a few newspapers across the country. She lives on a farm in the Midwest with her husband, three kiddos, and too many animals.
Lennar Minnesota is proud to announce our Lifestyle Villa Collection is now open for sales in our Laketown Community!
The Lifestyle Villa Collection at Laketown consists of three of our most highly-sought after one-level living floorplans.
These amazing new construction homes provide homeowners with all the convinces and luxuries of one-level living, without compromising space or efficiency. Designed with open-concept layouts and modern interior features, these homes are something you won’t want to miss out on.
Plus, with Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included program, purchasing a new home has never been easier. Our Everything’s Included program transforms the way home buyers shop and purchase new construction homes by removing many of the traditional hassles and time-consuming decisions. Instead, we simply including many of today’s most highly-desired upgrades in our homes for no additional cost!
Located in Victoria, residents of Laketown are just 15 miles to the 494 loop with easy access into the Twin Cities via Hwy 5, Hwy 7, or Hwy 12. Victoria is a great location to get outdoors and experience all that Minnesota has to offer. With nine lakes, including Lake Minnetonka, 13 city parks, The Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail which connects Victoria to Hopkins and 4 golf courses located within minutes of Laketown – you’ll love the year-round activities. Victoria is also home to the 1,800-acre Carver Park Reserve, including the Lowry Nature Preserve. Don’t forget to check out Victoria’s charming downtown area, on the shores of Lake Steiger, offering locally owned shops, some of the best dining in Carver County, and great entertainment for those of all ages.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to call Laketown home! For more information or to schedule a visit, call us at (952) 373-0485, visit our webpage, or contact us here!
Lennar’s newest community in Kissimmee, Storey Creek, is the perfect balance of great homes, a convenient location, and cost-effective. With easy access to major Florida highways, such as SR 535, I-4, and US 192, residents can spend the day anywhere in the Orlando area with ease. Located under an hour from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, the Orlando International Airport, and hundreds of shopping and dining options, living at Storey Creek is the perfect place for anyone looking to take advantage of all that central Florida offers.
One of the biggest highlights about living at Storey Creek is the abundance of community amenities. With basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, along with a fitness center and multipurpose field, this is the place to live if you enjoy being active. If these activities do not interest you, Storey Creek also has a clubhouse, resort-style swimming pool, and playground you whole family with enjoy.
This community is being built in three phases, starting with Storey Creek Estates which includes 174 homes each on a 50-feet wide homesite. Homebuyers at Storey Creek Estates can choose from seven unique and spacious floorplans. These single-family homes come with Lennar’s Everything’s Included® promise in addition to home automation features including WiFi certification, Amazon Echo, and more. Two of the plans are the Next Gen – Home Within A Home® floorplans meaning the community can accommodate all families, large or small.
The city of Kissimmee is full of fun and convenient things to do such as Old Town Kissimmee and Medieval Times dinner show which will never allow for a boring day when living in Storey Creek. This community is a wonderful place to live no matter your lifestyle. From all of the community amenities to the versatile variety of floorplans, it can be hard to choose the best aspect of this community.
Roseville, Calif. – November 2019 – Families in search of spacious home design with dual master suites will find their dream home at Corvara in the Residence 2786 design which is now selling. This luxurious four-bedroom layout features walk-in closets in every bedroom and a master suite on the first floor and second floor.
“Dual master suites have become a hot item for home shoppers looking to move up into a home with more space and luxury,” said Michelle Velky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “With quick move-in homes available, you can easily move into your dream home with high-end design details just in time for the new year!”
The floorplan provides a spacious layout with approximately 2,786 square feet of living space in total, featuring four bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms. Dual master suites give this home design a huge draw, along with its modern kitchen featuring a standalone island, open-concept layout on the first floor that connects the kitchen with ample counterspace to the great room, living room or formal dining room and the upstairs loft which provides more common shared living space.
Each of the master suites enjoy a luxury layout with a spacious amount of room, an expansive walk-in closet and spa-like bathrooms with dual vanities and a separate soaking tub in the upstairs suite. It’s the perfect layout for multigenerational families or households with older children, or families looking to provide a great guest suite for overnight stays.
This home also showcases Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program, which outfits the home with a series of high-end features and upgrades at no additional cost. Among these are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ designs for whole-home connectivity, solar, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and integrated home automation – all as standard.
Visit the Corvara at Fiddyment Farm Welcome Home Center for more information or tour the model homes, located at 1289 Makeway St. in Roseville. For further information visit www.lennar.com/sacramento or call an Internet Sales Consultant at 877-368-8464.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com
For families and young professionals seeking a stunning new townhome, Tuscan Pines by Lennar, located in the award-winning city of Pembroke Pines, offers several floorplans, among them the Lucca. With 1,828 square feet of air-conditioned space, the Lucca is smartly designed and well-equipped to help you realize your personalized version of home sweet home.
Lucca at a Glance:
Surprisingly attainable pre-construction prices – starting from just the low $400s – place this distinctive new home design well within your reach, and extend the benefits of a new construction home that resales simply can’t match. To top it all off, our one-of-a-kind Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs are built into the Lucca’s open-concept floorplan, delivering a connected and convenient lifestyle unique to Lennar homes. Simply ask Alexa anything you may want to know; control the temperature from your phone; or, keep an eye on your home with the Ring® Video Doorbell Elite – all of these Connected Home Features, plus many more, are included at no additional cost.
Within every room of your new Lucca home, the year-round Florida sunshine will flow in and create an inviting welcome for your guests, and, most importantly, your family. Generously proportioned and comfortable, the common areas on the first floor, such as the living and family rooms, can be arranged as dynamic entertaining spaces, featuring a large sectional couch and moveable furniture, or set more intimately as a sitting room with a loveseat, minimal décor, and a simple coffee table. One of the major benefits of buying a pre-construction home is the ability to choose your desired features and finishes as part of Lennar’s Everything’s Included® promise. If your aesthetic is minimalistic with metallic accents, a wide selection of features and finishes is available to choose what best complements your style. All this, and for no extra cost!
What often makes or breaks the deal for buyers is, unsurprisingly, the heart of every home: the kitchen. Luckily for new homebuyers considering the Lucca, its chef-inspired kitchen design is second-to-none, offering brand-new stainless steel appliances as part of the price of your home. Many kitchens in older homes suffer from insufficient counter and cabinet space. In Lennar homes, the usefulness of your home is just as important to us as the look of it, so there will be plenty of storage available to ensure your kitchen is tidy, yet lived-in. Positioned opposite the dining room and within steps of your private patio, serving and cleanup will be a breeze after enjoying homemade meals with family al fresco, or takeout with friends on the couch. No matter what type of day it’s been, your home’s got you covered.
There’s a time and place for together time, and then there’s the oh-so-important “me time” we all crave now and then. Designed with exactly this in mind, upstairs you’ll enjoy a split-bedroom floorplan, so your family can unwind and relax in their private quarters. On one end of the landing, your lavish master suite will make coming home all the more rewarding with its elegant coffered ceiling, large walk-in closet, and inviting master bath. Meanwhile, the kids can play without disturbing the peace in their bedrooms on the opposite end of the home. If your family is still growing or has already left the nest, one of these bedrooms can also function as a home office, so you can work from home and enjoy the freedom of a flexible space that keeps you closer to family.
Come discover the Lucca at our Tuscan Pines’ Welcome Home Center and benefit from limited-time pre-construction prices while they last!
While Lone Star State boasts the second-largest statewide population of veterans in the U.S., DFW’s the land of the free for more than a quarter of the 1.6 million men and women who fought for Texas and America. That means the Metroplex knows how to honor heroes.
Dallas Veterans Day Parade will feature some 150 entrants and four grand marshals, including three veterans, all over 90, who fought on the beaches of Normandy at D-Day—75 years ago this year. Cheer along the parade route, which starts at Reunion Arena, with the massing of the colors at 11 a.m. Or honor our vets by donating to the free event.
Lennar’s new homes for sale in Dallas, TX are virtually around the corner from a whole host of veterans’ organizations that need your help. So for those of us who aren’t among the nearly 8 percent of Americans who served, consider these fulfilling ways to contribute:
Speaking of man’s and woman’s and children’s best friend, you can become a trainer for DFW Canines for Veterans or support Veterans Assistance Dogs.
Of course, in the land of cowboys, don’t forget horses. Hooves for Heroes saddles up the therapeutic power of horses and provides services at no cost to veterans and active-duty personnel. Lennar communities closest to Dallas include coming soon community, Prairie Creek and Skyline Estates Watermill, which offers new homes for sale in Hutchins, TX.
Overland Grove, with new homes for sale in Forney, TX, and Chamberlain Crossing, offering new homes for sale in Fate, TX, are within just 40 miles of the VA North Texas Health Care System. What an incredible place to give your time to those willing to give their lives.
And, most importantly, celebrate those closest to you. If you or a loved one, a friend or a family member is a veteran needing assistance, TexVet is a state website full of resources.
With our deepest gratitude, we salute our veterans and their families. For more ideas about how to reach out to vets, visit this website and this one, and for more information about Lennar and our new homes for sale in Fort Worth, TX, and elsewhere, contact Lennar’s Dallas-Fort Worth Internet New Home team at (866) 314-4477 and visit our website.
